Page:Poems - Southey (1799) volume 2.djvu/235

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

221

FATHER.
What can we fear?
Who lamed the Miller's boy? who rais'd the wind
That blew my old barn's roof down? who d'ye think
Rides my poor horse a'nights? who mocks the hounds?
But let me catch her at that trick again,
And I've a silver bullet ready for her,
One that shall lame her, double how she will.
NATHANIEL.
What makes her sit there moping by herself,
With no soul near her but that great black cat?
And do but look at her!
CURATE.
Poor wretch! half blind
And crooked with her years, without a child
Or friend in her old age, 'tis hard indeed
To have her very miseries made her crimes!
I met her but last week in that hard frost
That made my young limbs ache, and when I ask'd
What brought her out in the snow, the poor old woman